Aldon Smith’s two sacks, Colin Kaepernick’s TD lead 49ers to victory

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 9, 2012, 7:00 PM EDT

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Heading into a hostile environment in San Francisco, the Miami Dolphins turned in a solid effort on Sunday. But in the end the 49ers were too strong, too physical and too good, and they earned a hard-fought win to stay on top in the NFC West.

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick didn’t make many big plays with his arm, completing 18 of 23 passes for 185 yards. But he didn’t make many mistakes, either, and playing efficiently and effectively was enough on a day when San Francisco’s defense played well. And Kaepernick put the game away by making a big play with his legs, running for a 50-yard touchdown with 2:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.

That defense has been led this season by Aldon Smith, who had two sacks, giving him a league-leading 19.5 on the season and keeping him within striking distance of Michael Strahan’s NFL record of 22.5 sacks in a season. With three games to go, Smith has a good chance of breaking Strahan’s record.

And the 49ers have a good chance of making a lot of noise in the playoffs. If the 49ers win their final three regular-season games they’ll have a first-round playoff bye, and they’ll enter the playoffs with as good a chance as anyone of getting to the Super Bowl.

Kap looked good today. It was w weird game, but when it was time, talent took over. Big win in the playoff push. It seems this team needs to be inspired to play well. But when they play well, they dominate. Patties next. Better pack a lunch!

Tough battle today. Moss dropping the long bomb…so close. Wanted that for Moss as much as Kaep.

We need to get back to running the ball more with Gore and now James…that kid has sick wheels. I think we are getting pass and option happy with Kaep. Give the kid some breaks and hand off the ball more and let Gore do damage. Need more N to S running, the sweeps and trick plays work better when used sparingly…Gore, Hunter, James…that is a sick RB core.

Hats off to Miami…definitely a bright future. Muffed punt really hurt their chances, otherwise it would have been way tooooo close.

Ummm had Moss not had an arm bar put on him Kaep would’ve had an impressive TD throw. How the refs missed the PI is…..well at this stage not surprising. Dan the dork Dierdorff was even going on and in about that missed call. Kaep played just fine.

Hats off to the refs they made this game good. Glad to see the refs wear red & gold not black & white
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Please do explain. Was that during the 60 yd bomb to Moss where there was no PI call for a Randy Couture inspired armbar? He literally had ahold of his arm for 20 yds. How about the non call when Lee got leveled? Irrelevant due to your butterfingers return man, but nonetheless it wasn’t called. Oh wait that’s right.. it MUST be because the 49ers got flagged more right?

I’m just asking for consistency – now that 49’ers fans agree it’s weak for fans to complain about the referees, I’d love to hear some 49’er fans hold their coach to the same standards they hold other fans.

Seahawks-49’ers rematch in 2 weeks. I hope Harbaugh takes that future loss like a man and doesn’t complain about referees.

I’m just asking for consistency – now that 49′ers fans agree it’s weak for fans to complain about the referees, I’d love to hear some 49′er fans hold their coach to the same standards they hold other fans.

Seahawks-49′ers rematch in 2 weeks. I hope Harbaugh takes that future loss like a man and doesn’t complain about referees.
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Yeah except your win* over Green Bay DID happen because of the refs.. so move on outta here with that nonsense weak beak

Anyone who says the 49ers’ chances are better with Alex Smith are absolutely insane. Check yourself into a crazy house right now. San Francisco would have lost a game like today’s with Smith under center.

Tebow effect for kap, come in, play a bunch of bad teams and look ok, get in the playoffs and be in over his head and lose the game. I had niners in sb, but with Alex out I have them losing in the first round.

coaches are supposed to lobby for their team. what is with the argument that Harbaugh is a whiner? is Bellichick a whiner? Tomlin? Coughlin? these guys are always talking to officials. if your coach isnt arguing with officials then your coach is probably not very good. fans to blame their losses on refs is a joke and i dont think any of those coaches have blamed losses on refs before.

So Kaepernick had one deep ball pass and one run, the rest of the game was horrible! He had ZERO third down completions at half time and only 2 in the whole game!!! Wow! Some talent kaepernick fans!! He can run! He can throw hard! He is superman! Open your eyes people! He played just as bad today as last week, if it was not for special teams we would have never got the momentum or moral to win! So your excuse is it was a WEIRD game? I don’t understand all the excuses you can make for this kid!! He has had ZERO touchdowns in the last 7 quarters of football!!! I done being nice kaepernick fans are stupid! I will support this kid when he is ready and he is NOT ready! He will be ready in 2 years probably. Put Alex back in!!!

Hats off to the refs they made this game good. Glad to see the refs wear red & gold not black & white
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Please do explain. Was that during the 60 yd bomb to Moss where there was no PI call for a Randy Couture inspired armbar? He literally had ahold of his arm for 20 yds. How about the non call when Lee got leveled? Irrelevant due to your butterfingers return man, but nonetheless it wasn’t called. Oh wait that’s right.. it MUST be because the 49ers got flagged more right?
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I’m not going to blame this loss on the refs, but let’s be real here. The Niners certainly did benefit on a few penalties called against the Dolphins and a few non-calls. First of all, you’re acting as if Randy Moss was mugged. The DB was barely touching Moss’ arm down the field. That’s usually a toss up considering the inconsistency that is NFL officiating. Sean Smith’s pass interference on 4th and 1 was a bad call, and let’s not forget about what should have been a PI on a deep ball to Hartline. And what about the guy (Justin Smith I believe) that shoved Incognito in the back away from the play.

The Dolphins would have lost and it probably would have still been by 14, but if anything, SF benefited from the lackluster officiating more than Miami.